Thanksgiving Turkey Tips & Food Safety Tips

The holidays are here, a joyous time of year to get together, watch sports and eat unhealthy quantities of food.

Unfortunately though, a delightful Thanksgiving dinner can quickly turn for the worse due to even the slightest food-borne illness.

To help avoid a holiday hiccup, Wyoming’s Poison Center has offered a convenient list of “dos” and “do nots” to ensure safe handling and preparation.

DO:

-Do keep your turkey in its original wrapping, refrigerated until ready to cook.

-Do wash your hands with soap and water for at least 15-20 seconds before preparing your food.

-Do defrost your turkey by refrigeration or cold running water.

-Do allow one day for every 5 pounds to defrost in the refrigerator. In a cold water bath, change the water every 30 minutes. A 20 pound turkey will take 12 hours to defrost in cold water.

-Do use a meat thermometer to check if your turkey is done. Your turkey should cook until the internal temperature reaches 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

-Do remove the stuffing immediately after the turkey is cooked.

-Do store leftover turkey in the refrigerator and use within 3-4 days.

-Do store leftover stuffing and gravy in the refrigerator and use within 1-2 days.

DO NOT:

-Do Not defrost a turkey at room temperature. Bacteria can multiply to unsafe numbers on outer layers before inner layers have defrosted.

-Do Not leave an uncooked thawed turkey out of the refrigerator longer than 2 hours.

-Do Not partially cook the turkey one day and continue roasting the next day.

-Do Not prepare food if you are sick or have any nose or eye infection.

-Do Not leave leftovers out on the counter longer than 2 hours.

-Do Not store leftover stuffing in the turkey.

-Do Not re-freeze a completely thawed uncooked turkey.

-Do Not stuff turkeys as it makes it difficult for the internal temperature to reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit within a safe period of time. If you must stuff your turkey, stuff it lightly before cooking and leave room for the oven to cook the interior of the turkey and stuffing.

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